Impacts & Accomplishments 2026
STORIES
2/16/20262 min read
'Earth Hour' Success Story at Christie Gardens
On March 27th, 2026, CARH Communications Coordinator Esther Collier brought our message of climate action to Christie Gardens, a not-for-profit continuum-of-care retirement community in Toronto. What started as a simple, everyday conversation with Marcelina, a Personal Support Worker (PSW) caring for Esther’s mother, blossomed into a powerful building-wide environmental movement.
As Marcelina's urged Esther to share climate solutions with the entire community, Esther delivered a presentation on 'Earth Hour' and the dual biodiversity and climate crises facing our planet. The presentation quickly catalyzed community-wide action:
Building Mobilization: Residents volunteered as floor representatives to knock on doors and coordinate a collective "lights out" effort.
Staff Promotion: Christie Gardens staff member Teresa Ramirez supported the initiative with elevator signage and event promotion.
62% Reduction: Photographic tracking of the building's 238 east-facing windows revealed that lit rooms plummeted from 42% before the event to just 16% during Earth Hour—achieving an incredible 62% reduction!
Festivals Festivals Festivals!
We are going to co-host the 3rd Eco Family Festival with Coucnillor Scott Thompson. We will also engage with the public through interactive activities to inspire climate actions at city-wide events including the Earth Day, Maple Syrup Festival, Spring Festival, among others!
Foundational Science Classes
Led by a retired TDSB teacher, Esther Collier, our free foundational science classes will explore with our young citizens climate issues through various scientific lens. Stay tuned to sign up for your kids!
Moving forward, the residents and staff committed to normalizing daily climate conversations during lunch and family gatherings to build collective strength. This incredible local story proves that simple individual conversations can truly lead to community action and change. As Marcelina powerfully reminded the community, “Silence is NOT an option!”